Spout inserting machine



March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN bq HENRY d BRUCKER BY NTHONY d, O'LENIC ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tic]. E.

[Q3 INVENTOR.

MILTON H. KLAUSMANN I HENRY J. BRUCKER 2 BY ANTHONY a. O'LENJC I I 5 v ATTORNEY.

March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN HENRY J. BRUCKER y ANTHONY d.O'LENlCK ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14. 1959 lllll INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN HENRY J. BRUCKER BY ANTHONY d. O'LENICK an/7 M ATTORNEY March 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 amsmwmm INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN HENRY J. BRUCKIECR ATTORNEY Mai-Ch 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 HENRY J. BRU KER y ANTHONY d.O' NICK J E INVENTOR.

MlLTON H. KLAU5MANN AT TOANE Y March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,025,813

\ SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN HENRY J. BRUCKER ANTHONY J. O'LENICK 449 M ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 14. 1959 INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUSMANN HENRY u. BRUCKER By ANTHONY u. O'LENICK M ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR. MILTON H. KLAUS MANN HENRY d. BRUCKEQ BY ANTHONY d. O'LE ICK M 1 ATTORNEY United States Patent ration of New Jersey Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,284 20 Claims. (Cl. 113-1) This invention relates to machines of the general nature described in Patents No. 2,216,733 dated October 8, 1940, No. 2,300,099 dated October 27, 1942, No. 2,861,529 dated November 25, 1958, and No. 2,892,430 dated June 30, 1959.

The machine of this invention is especially intended for the handling of pouring spouts of the general type disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,966,284 and 2,011,434 dated July 10, 1934, and August 13, 1935, respectively, although the machine embodying the present invention may be utilized for inserting other types of pouring spouts into other containers.

Machines of this type generally include means whereby at one or more stations the spouts in fiat blank form are fed successively, the blanks are bent to form body portions and sector-shaped wings in angular relation thereto, prongs are stamped up from the body portion of the spouts, and the containers are fed past said station or stations, the completed spouts being inserted into and secured to the walls of the containers as the containers move past said stations.

The machine described in Patent No. 2,216,733 includes mandrels mounted on a turret that are inserted into open upper ends of containers with a snug frictional fit and the containers are carried by the mandrels to the station at which the spouts are inserted during rotation of the turret, into the containers; and the mandrels carry anvils that cooperate with a spout-inserting member or ram for clinching the prongs of the spouts on the walls of the containers.

The machine of Patent No. 2,892,430 includes a linear conveyor for moving the containers to and from the spout-inserting station and the anvil is moved partially into the container into abutting relation to a container flap thereof that is to receiver the spout, while the spoutpushing member or ram is mounted on the frame of the machine in juxtaposed relation to the anvil so that said flap is received between the anvil and the ram.

In both of these patented machines, the spout-pushing member or ram and the anvil move momentarily synchronously with each container with a reciprocating or back and forth motion, and time is lost in the return motion of the ram and anvil, and one object of the invention is to provide a machine to eliminate this loss if possible so that the number of containers into which spouts may be inserted per unit of time may be increased.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein the containers shall be moved continuously in one direction in a predetermined path in spaced succession or file formation, and there shall be a plurality of spout transfer and inserting units also movable continuously in spaced or file formation in the same direction so as to pick up spouts at spout-forming stations and transfer the spouts in succession to a predetermined point in juxtaposition to the containers and momentarily move synchronously with the containers, during which movement each spout shall be inserted into the portion of a container wall that is to receive the spout and thereafter said transfer units shall return in the same direction to the spout-forming station and pick up another spout.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a machine wherein each spout transfer and inserting unit ice shall include a spout carrier, a ram for pushing the spout from the carrier into the container wall from the outer side thereof, and an anvil cooperative with the ram movable into and out of juxtaposition to the ram at the other side of the container wall, said anvil, spout carrier and ram being movable together as a unit as described and independently of each other during spout-inserting operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine wherein the spout carrier and ram shall be associated with each other so that the carrier will pick up the spout at the spout-forming station and move it into proper relation to the container wall and also into proper relation to the ram and to the anvil for insertion of the spout into the container wall.

In the operation of the spout forming and feeding mechanism, a completed spout is projected upwardly from the mechanism at the upper end thereof and in integral relation to the strip of spout blanks, the spouts being fed step by step by intermittent movement of the blank upwardly through the forming dies; and the completed spouts are severed from said strip of blanks by a cutter operable in timed relation to the feed of the spouts.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved spout carrier which shall frictionally engage the completed spout prior to the severance of the spout from the blank strip and carry the spout from said forming mechanism to a container into which the spout is to be inserted; and to provide a novel and improved combination of such a carrier and a spout-inserting mechanism including a ram whereby the spout shall be accurately positioned by the carrier in proper relation to the container wall portion and the ram shall push the spout from the carrier and into said container wall portion.

Still another object is to provide novel and improved means in combination with said carrier for firmly pushing the spout therein after the spout has been severed from the blank strip.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in such a machine a plurality of spout-forming mechanisms and a plurality of spout carrier, inserting and anvil units moveable in timed relation so that one spout-forming mechanism will supply spouts for certain of the carrying, inserting and anvil units, while the other forming mechanism will supply spouts for alternate carrier, inserting and anvil units.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic top plan view of a machine embodying the invention, with portions broken away for clearness in illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the machine with portions broken away and shown in section approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 showing one spout .carrier with a spout inserted therein from one of the forming mechanisms, and about to pass over the other forming mechanism.

FIGURE 7 is a similar view showing another spout carrier receiving a spout before severance of the spout from the spout-forming mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 88 of FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a similar view on the plane of the line 99 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 7 with portions omitted and showing the mechanism for tipping and forcing the spout into the spout carrier and illustrating the first portion of the movement of said mechanism.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 showing a subsequent position of the said mechanism.

FIGURE 12 is a similar view showing the spout in its final position in the carrier.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of portions of the machine frame and spout carrying, inserting and anvil unit in spout inserting position with portions broken away and illustrating in dot and dash lines a container in which a spout is being inserted.

FIGURE 14 is an elevational view of the unit shown in FIGURE 13, viewing the same from the position designated XIV of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 15-15 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 16 is a similar view approximately on the plane of the line 16-16 also looking in the direction of the arrows showing the spout carrier and inserting mechanism in the spout-inserting position.

FIGURE 17 is a similar view showing the spout carrier and inserting mechanism in its normal retracted position.

FIGURE 18 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane of the line 18-18 of FIGURE 16, showing the ram in the spout-inserting position and showing the cam for operating the ram in broken lines.

FIGURE 19 is a similar view showing the ram in its normal position prior to the insertion of a spout.

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 20-20 of FIG- URE 2 and showing the spout carrier, ram and anvil in the positions immediately prior to the insertion of the spout.

FIGURE 21 is a similar view showing the anvil in position to reinforce the wall of the container prior to the insertion of the spout.

FIGURE 22 shows the parts in their positions during the spout-inserting operation.

FIGURE 23 is a similar view showing the parts in their normal retracted positions after the insertion of the spout and showing the spout inserted in the container wall.

FIGURE 24 is a transverse sectional view through the container and a fragmentary elevational view of the anvil, spout carrier and inserting mechanism viewed from approximately the plane of the line 24-24 of FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 25 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 25--25 of FIGURE 7, showing the spout before the frictional wedging thereof into the spout carrier.

FIGURE 26 is a similar view approximately on the plane of the line 2626 of FIGURE 6, showing the spout completely inserted into and frictionally held in the carrier.

For the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, flle spout herein contemplated comprises a body portion a, prongs b on the body portion to penetrate and be clinched upon the container wall for securing the spout therein, and wings or flanges c to move in the pouring opening of the container as the spout is moved from closed to open position. As best shown in FIGURE 25, the spout wings c normally and initially diverge or flare away from each other and from the body portion a and are initially inherently resilient, and of course, the flanges are angularly related to each other forming and feeding mechanisms.

in the same way in which the longitudinal edges a of the body portion a are inclined to each other as shown in FIGURES 8 and 26.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference character A generally designates a conveyor for the containers B which are shown as comprising rectangular boxes having the usual side and end walls d and e, respectively, side flaps f and end flaps g. In accordance with the invention the containers are disposed on the conveyor in uniformly spaced apart relation and in file formation, the containers being accurately spaced apart by blocks C that are connected to a chain D that is driven longitudinally in any suitable manner, for example over sprockets. The blocks C and the containers B between them are slidable continuously in one direction in a predetermined path, on rails E which are mounted on a frame portion F, and the spout is to be inserted into a special zone of one of the end walls the plane of which is perpendicular to said path of movement of the containers. The blocks and containers are constrained to move in a straight line by lower guide rails and upper guide rails H that are secured on the frame portion F.

The conveyor moves the containers from a source of supply to a point intermediate the length of the conveyor that may be designated a spout-inserting station I, and as the conveyors move to the station I, one of the side flaps of each container is forced downwardly into approximately a horizontal position by a rod J beneath which the flap relatively slidably passes as best shown in FIGURES 1-4. After the containers have passed the spout-inserting station I, they slide over and along another rod K which swings the fiaps back to their normal vertical position in line with the corresponding side wall so that the container is ready for passage through a filling machine.

Coacting with the conveyor is a spout-carrying, spoutinserting and anvil mechanism generally designated L which receives finished spouts M from two spout-forming mechanisms N and O that may be of any suitable construction, preferably of the general type shown in the above mentioned Patents No. 2,216,733, No. 2,300,099, No. 2,861,529 and No. 2,892,430. The mechanism L includes a plurality of spout transfer and inserting units P each of which includes a spout carrier, spout-inserting ram and an anvil, and said units are moved continuously in spaced apart or file formation through a predetermined path a portion of which adjacent the spout-inserting station I is parallel to the path of movement of the containers.

The number of spout transfer and inserting units may be varied as desired, as may also the number of spout- The drawings herein show nine of the units P and two of the spout-forming and feeding units N and O. The units P are so spaced from each other and the spout-forming mechanisms are so spaced apart the spout carrier of certain of the units will pick up spouts from one of the forming and feeding mechanisms while other spout carriers will pick up spouts from the other forming and feeding mechanism. For example, as shown in FIGURE 1, the unit designated P1 is loaded with a spout that was picked up from the forming and feeding mechanism N, and the unit P2 is empty but will pick up a spout from the forming and feeding mechanism 0, while the unit P3 is about to pick up a spout from the forming and feeding mechanism N.

Generally describing the operation of the machine, a strip of spout blanks comprising flat spout blanks h connected in end-to-end relation is fed step by step to successively locate the blanks in proper relation to dies i and j (FIGURES 6, 7 and 8) which bend the sector-shaped Wings 0 of each spout relatively to the body portion a and also form the prongs b in the body portion, after which the completed spout at the leading end of the blank stripis projected into a position to be engaged by the spout carrier of one. of the units P. Then one of the carriers 5 moves into engagement with the spout, and in successive steps the spout is severed from the blank strip, the unit P of which the carrier forms a part moves with the spout therein to the spout-inserting station where the carrier is projected into the space between two containers B, and the anvil is moved inwardly of the container in juxtaposed position to one side of the portion of the container to receive the spout, in this instance, an end wall e as shown at the top of FIGURE 1, right hand side of FIGURE 2 and in FIGURE 21, whereupon the ram is actuated to force the flanges c of the spout through the container wall as shown in FIGURE 22 after which the ram is retracted .in the carrier, the anvil is raised out of the container and the carrier and anvil are withdrawn from between the containers, it being understood that the unit P moves vcontinuously synchronously With the container conveyor and in a path parallel to the path of movement of the container during the spout-inserting operation. The said unit continues to move along its predetermined path toward vthe corresponding spout-forming mechanism to pick up another spout, carrying it to another conveyor and insert it into a wall of another container. It will be understood that the spouts are formed and projected into the path of movement of the spout carriers in proper timed relation to the movement of the spout carriers, the spout blank being shown as fed step by step by a mechanism known in the above mentioned patents and generally designated .k

herein that is actuated by a cam m on a drive shaft 1 that also has a cam 11 thereon which actuates the die. One die icomprises a cutting member i that cooperates with a cutting edge j (FIGURES 6 and 7) for severing the spout from the blank strip.

The two spout-forming mechanisms N and 'O are simultaneously driven by a chain and sprocket connection with a maindrive shaft Q (FIGURES 3 and 4), said connectionbeing shown as comprising a sprocket on each shaft .1, an idler sprocket p journaled on the frame G of the machine, a sprocket q on the main drive shaft Q, and a chain -r that passes over said sprockets.

The main drive shaft 'Q is of course journaled in the main frame G and driven by any suitable source of power through beveledgearing S; and the units P are moved by said shaft through the instrumentality of the upper and lower chains T and T that pass around sprockets U and U and V andV' on the shaft 'Q and on a counter shaft W, respectively, to which the units P are connected by the respective brackets X and X at equidistantly spaced points along the length of the upper and lower chains T and T.

While the mechanism L and the units P may be constructed in different ways, for the purpose of illustration each unit is shown as comprising a rectangular support .plate 1 to the rear side of which at its upper and lower ends are connected the brackets X and X. 'The plate normally stands in a vertical plane and has a pair of support rollers'2 journaled on said side thereof at its lower end, anda pair of guide rollers 3 journaled on vertical axes on the upper edge of the plate as best shown in FIGURES and 13. The rollers 2 run in a track which includes two parallel grooved sections 4 each parallel to one reach of the chains U and U', one section being juxtaposed to the spout-formingmechanism N and O and the othersection being located in juxtaposition to the conveyor A or the path of movement of the containers. At the ends of the grooved :sections 4 are arcuately curved sections 5 that 'have'flat top surfaces to permit some lateral movement "of the rollers relative to the track as the unitsmove along said curvedportions.

The upper guide rollers '3 run in a continuously grooved track 6 that has two parallel portions 7 each disposed above and approximately parallel to one of the sections 4 of the lower track, and the ends of the parallel portions 7 merge into ar-cuate or curved portions 8 of a diameter somewhat greater'than the distance between the parallel sections 7 to compensate for the swinging movement .of the 6 plates 1 as they run through the arcuately curved portions 8.

FIGURE 1 shows all of the units P in top plan while in FIGURE 4 only one of the units is shown completely in plan view, portions of all the other units having been broken away or omitted for clearness in illustration; and FIGURE 13 shows one of the units in perspective with portions broken away.

Each support plate 1 has an opening therethrough in which is mounted a split tubular guide bracket 9 wherein is slidable a U-shaped mount 10 which carries the spout carrier generally designated 11, the ram or spout pusher generally designated 12, and the anvil generally designated 13.

Generally describing the operation of the units P, as the units pass along the straight sections 4 and 7 of the tracks that are juxtaposed to the spout-forming and feeding mechanisms, the spout carriers first are positioned so as to pick up the completed spouts at the upper ends of the spout blank strips, and the respective anvils are first and normally held in position to clear the spouts and the containers; and as the units move along the other straight sections of the tracks juxtaposed to the container conveyor, synchronously with the movement of the containers, the respective mounts 10 are actuated to move the corresponding carriers, rams and anvils transversely of the path of movement of the containers so that the spout carrier of each unit is projected between two adjacent containers in juxtaposition to the wall of one container and the corresponding anvil is 'at the same time projected into a position above the container and at the opposite side of said wall, whereupon the anvil is swung downwardly into the container close to said wall and immediately thereafter the spout pusher or ram is actuated to push the spout from the carrier through said container wall and cause a clinching of the spout prongs on the container wall, as shown in FIGURES 20-23. Then the anvil 'is withdrawn from the container, the ram is retracted to its original position, the mount is actuated to return the carrier, ram and anvil to their first-mentioned positions and the whole unit continues in its path of movement to the spout-forming and feeding mechanism to pick up the next spout.

More specifically describing the construction, each guide bracket 9 has two horizontal guide grooves 14 that extend perpendicularly to the path of movement of the units P, and each arm of the U-shaped mount 10 has a flange 15 slidably mounted in one of said guide grooves. The mount 10 has an arm 16 on which are two horizontally spaced rollers 17 journaled on vertical axes and receiving between them a cam track 18 fixed on the machine frame G (FIGURES l, 3 and 5) for reciprocating the mount in the guide bracket'in directions perpendicular to the path of movements of the units to move the anvil and spout carrier from their spout pick-up posit-ions to their spout-inserting positions and vice versa.

Projecting from the mount at the side thereof opposite the rollers 17 'is the spout carrier 11 that has a horizontal slot 19 therein opening through the underside thereof and of across-sectional shape approximatelycorresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the spout as best shown in FIGURES 5 and 8, the side walls 19 of the slot being inclined-withrespectto each other at an angle approximately corresponding to the angular relation of the resilient \v-ings c-of the spoutso thatsaid wings may'yieldingly frictionally engage the side walls of the slot at the front end thereof for rleasably holding the spout in the spout carrier.

A head block 20 of the spout pusher or ram 12 is slidably mounted in said slot 19 and normally disposed at the rear or trailing'endthereof. The block has acrosssectional shape approximately corresponding to that of the slot and has a-pin and slot connection 2 1 'with one end of a lever 22 which ispivotally mounted intermediate its ends "at 23 on the mount 14 and hasa roller 24 atits other 'endthat follows a cam 25 fixedly mounted on the frame 'ofthe machine (FIGURESL 4, '16 and 18'), whereby at the proper time the ram is slid in the slot 19 in the carrier to push the spout out of said slot and through the wall of the container. A tension spring 26 normally holds the roller in contact with the cam 25 and normally influences the lever 22 to retract the pusher into its normal position at the rear end of the slot 19 to permit the spout to be picked up by the carrier at the other end of said slot as best shown in FIGURES 7 and 19.

As above stated, the mount 10 also carries the anvil 13 and as shown (FIGURES 1, 2, 13 and 15), the anvil includes a head 27 of a width slightly less than the width of one of the containers and of a length suflicient to extend into the container in juxtaposition to the container wall that is to receive the spout as best shown in FIG- URES 21 and 24. The head has two elongated V-shaped notches 28 in its lower end to provide clearance for the spout Wings as the spout is inserted (FIGURES 15 and 24) and the head also has depressions 29 to receive and clinch the prongs b of the spout as shown in FIGURES 21 and 22. The anvil head is disposed on one end of a lever 30 which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 31 on the mount (FIGURES 5 and and the other end of said lever has journaled thereon a roller 32 which follows a track 33 having a cam 33' (FIGURES 4 and 5) that is mounted on the main frame so that at the proper time and at the proper position of the corresponding unit P, the anvil will be swung from its normal position above the spout-forming mechanism and the containers (FIGURES 5, 3 and 20, respectively, and broken lines in FIGURE 15) to its spout-inserting position shown at the right hand side of FIGURE 2 and in FIGURES l, 4, 13, 15 and 21. A tension spring 34 normally biases the lever so as to cause the roller 32 to follow the cam and to influence the lever 30 to raise the anvil head into its normal retracted position above the spout-forming mechanism and containers as shown in FIGURE 5.

As hereinabove generally explained, the spout is picked up from the spout-forming mechanism and frictionally held by the spout carrier as the carrier moves over the forming mechanism, but desirably means is provided for forcing the spout into proper position in the carrier, especially when the spout is of the type wherein the straight edges p of the spout wings are disposed at an angle of less than ninety degrees to the plane of the spout body portion as best shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 10-12. FIGURE 7 shows the carrier and the completed spout at the upper end of the spout blank strip in the relative positions assumed just prior to the severing of the spout from the blank strip with the spout partially inserted into the carrier slot 19 and the carrier moving in the direction indicated by the arrow. Upon closing of the forming dies 1' and i, the cutting edges 1'' and i (FIGURE 6) engage so as to sever the spout from the blank strip, whereupon the severed spout is moved by and with the carrier.

It is necessary that there be clearance between the top surfaces of the spout-forming mechanisms N, O and the lower surface of the spout carrier as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and, as hereinbefore indicated, it is also necessary that the spout be firmly frictionally gripped by the walls 19' of the slot 19 in the carrier. As shown, an upwardly inclined resilient plate 35 is secured at one end to each spout-forming mechanism as by screws 36 and has its other end otherwise unsupported so that the carrier and spout will move over said plate and the spout will be pushed upwardly into the carrier by sliding contact of the spout with the plate as best shown by a comparison of FIGURES 7 and 12 in the latter of which the spout is shown fully pushed into the carrier. As the spout is pushed upwardly, the Wings 0 are pressed or sprung toward each other from their normal position shown in FIGURES 8 and 25 into the position shown in FIGURE 26 and the inherent resiliency of the wings causes frictional contact thereof with the walls 19' of the slot 19 such that the spout is yieldingly frictionally held in the carrier.

The spout must also be pushed or tilted rearwardly to compensate for the acute angular relation of the lower edges c' of the wings to the body portion, from a position shown in FIGURE 10 immediately after the spout has been severed from the blank strip to the position shown in FIGURES 11, 6 and 26 where the spout body portion is shown as having been pushed rearwardly and firmly against the ram block 20. One means for so tilting the spout is shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 10-12 and comprises a wheel 36 rotatably mounted on a horizontal headed pivot stud 38 and having a plurality of fingers 37 that project approximately radially and are curved in the same direction in the plane of the wheel with their free ends pointing toward the spout-forming mechanism and extending upwardly through a slot 39 in the plate 35 and with one of the fingers normally extending above the top surface of the plate as shown in FIGURE 6 so as to be engaged by the oncoming spout as shown in FIGURE 10. Rotation of the wheel under the pushing action of the spout is yieldingly restrained, preferably frictionally, and as shown in FIGURES 6 and 9, the wheel has a plurality of sockets 40, one for each finger, with which coact a spring pressed ball 41 that is mounted in a block 42 rigidly secured to the underside of the plate 35 and in which the headed pivot stud 38 is secured. A compression spring 43 is interposed between the head of the stud 38 and the wheel to normally press the wheel into frictional contact with the block 42 as best shown in FIG- URE 9 and thereby frictionally resist rotation of the wheel; and the ball 41 successively seats in the sockets 40 to cause proper step by step rotation of the wheel. Obviously the resistance of the wheel to the movement of the spout by the carrier causes the spout to be pushed rearwardly in the carrier as shown in FIGURES l0 and 11, and the wheel is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the force of the carrier so as to move the finger engaged by a spout out of the path of movement of the spout and carrier and at the same time move the next finger into position to tilt the next spout as shown in FIGURES 11 and 12.

It will be noted that it is necessary that the container closure flap i must be disposed outside of the container and in a horizontal plane or below it, when the anvil moves into and out of the container, so as not to interfere with the spout-inserting operation; and desirably the mount 10 for the anvil and spout carrier is provided with an arm 45 projecting outwardly therefrom toward the container conveyor and at an elevation slightly higher than the container flap f when the latter is swung outwardly of the container into a horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1 and by broken lines in FIGURE 13, so that as the mount is slid outwardly to the spout-inserting position, the arm will move into overlying relation to the container flap and thus hold the flap against swinging upwardly during the spout-inserting operation.

It will also be understood that while the spouts herein shown have their wings c flaring away from the body portion and from each other and are inherently resilient so as to be frictionally gripped in the slot 19 of the carrier, the carrier could be formed to otherwise grip or hold the spouts and to hold spouts of different shapes.

While the invention has been shown as embodied in certain structural details, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and that many modifications and changes can be made in the construction of a machine within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: a

1. A machine for mounting on a container wall a pouring spout including a body having side flanges to be pushed edgewise through a zone of said container Wall during mounting of the spout, said machine comprising means for supporting and moving such a container in a predetermined path continuously in one direction with one end open and said zone of the container wall disposed perpendicularly to said path, and a unit juxtaposed to and movable synchronously with the container along and parallel to a portion of said path of the container that constitutes a spout-inserting station, said unit including a mount movable laterally of said path of movement into juxtaposition to said container wall and having movable parts providing for the securing of a spout in said portion of said wall during said momentary movement.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 the unit including a carrier for said spout whose normal position is at one side of said path of movement of the container, a ram for pushing the spout from the carrier through said zone of the container wall, and means for simultaneously moving said carrier and said ram from said position at one side of said path of movement of the container laterally of the said path of movement at said spout-inserting station to locate said carrier and ram at one side of said container wall, means for actuating said ram toward and away from said container Wall to push the spout flanges through said zone of the container wall and withdraw from the spout, respectively, and means for thereafter returning the carrier and ram to said normal position, said carrier and ram being mounted for movement in an endless path in one direction past said spout-inserting station, and spout-feeding means at a spout-feeding station juxtaposed to said endless path of movement in spaced relation to the spout-inserting station providing for the feeding of a spout to said carrier as the carrier passes said spoutfeeding station, whereby in one cycle of operation, a spout is picked up by the carrier at said spout-feeding station, is carried by the carrier to the spout-inserting station, is inserted into the container wall by said ram, and the carrier returns to spout-feeding station for another spout and another cycle of operation.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 with the addition of spout-feeding means at a spout-feeding station, and wherein one of said parts is a spout carrier movable in a continuous path successively past said spout-feeding station and said spout-inserting station providing for the picking up of a spout by said carrier at said spout-feeding station and transferring the spout to said spout-inserting station.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the said mount has a carrier for said spout whose normal position is at one side of said path of movement of the container, a ram movable parallel to the direction of movement of said unit for pushing the spout from the carrier through said zone of the container Wall, and means for simultaneously moving said carrier and said ram from said position at one side of said path of movement of the container laterally of the said path of movement at said spout-inserting station to locate said carrier and ram at one side of said container wall, means for actuating said arm toward and away from said container wall to push the spout flanges through said zone of the container wall and withdraw from the spout, respectively, and means for thereafter returning the carrier and ram to said normal position. v

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 with the addition of an anvil to resist the thrust of the ram on said container wall that is movable simultaneously with the carrier and ram laterally of the path of movement of the container, and with the addition of means for actuating the anvil into and out of the container through said open end thereof in juxtaposition to said container wall zone providing for support of said wall zone against the thrust of the ram during the insertion of the spout flanges and for withdrawal of the anvil from the container after insertion of the spout.

6. A machine for mounting on a container wall, a pouring spout'including a body having side flanges to be pushed edgewise through a zone of said container wall during mounting of the spout, said machine comprising means for supporting and moving such a container in a predetermined path continuously in one direction with 10 one end open and with said zone of the container wall disposed perpendicularly to said path, a frame, at least one spout transfer and inserting unit, movable ina predetermined path continuously in the same direction as the movement of said containers to and from a .predetei'mined spout-inserting station in juxtaposition to the said containers and synchronously with the containers, each of said units comprising a spout carrier, a ram for pushing the spout from the carrier through said zone of the container wall and an anvil to resist the thrust of the ram on said container Wall, means for feeding a spout into the path of movement of said spout carrier at a spout-feeding station in said path and for causing said spout to be picked up and carried by said carrier, means for moving said carrier, said ram, and said anvil simultaneously from a position at one side of the path of movement of the container at said spout-inserting station laterally of the path of movement of said unit and to position said carrier and ram at one side of said container wall and the anvil at the'other side of said wall, means for actuating the anvil into and out of the container in juxtaposition to said wall and means for actuating said ram parallel to said path toward and away from said anvil to push the spout flanges through said zone of the container wall and to Withdraw from the spout, respectively, the anvil moving means being incorporated into the carrier and ram moving means, means for returning said carrier, ram and anvil to the first mentioned position for continued movement to the spout-feeding station to pick up another spent.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein each spout transfer and inserting unit includes a support element, means including tracks on said frame mounting said support element for movement in an endless path in one direction past said spout-inserting station, means for moving said support element through said endless path including at least one endless chain connected to said support element and sprockets supporting said chain and means driving said sprockets, a mount slidable in each support element in directions perpendicular to said path of movement, means movably mounting each of said ram and said anvil on said mount to move therewith, means including a cam on said frame and a follower on said mount for sliding, said mount, and means including a cam on said frame and a follower on mounting for actuating each of said anvil and said ram on said mount.

8. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said carrier has a 'slot disposed in parallel relation to the path of movement of said container at said spout-inserting station to receive a spout at said spout-feeding station and hold the spout while the carrier is moving past said spout-inserting station, said ram is slidable in said slot topush the spout therefrom through the container wall, and said anvil is movable synchronously with said carrier and also is disposed and movable in a plane perpendicular to the paths of movement of the container and of the carrier.

9. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein each spout transfer and inserting unit includes a support element and means mounting it on said frame for movement in an endless path in one direction past said spout-inserting station, a mount slidable in said support element in directions perpendicular to said path of movement and on which said carrier, ram and anvil are mounted, means including parts on said frame for sliding said mount, and means including parts on said frame for actuating said ram and said anvil.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9 with the addition of spout-feeding means at a spout-feeding station juxtaposed to said endless path of movement in spaced relation to the spout-inserting station providing for the feeding of a spout to said carrier as the carrier passes said spout-feeding station, whereby in one cycle of operation, a spout is picked up by the carrier at said spout-feeding station, is carried by the carrier to the spout-inserting station, is inserted into the container wall by said ram, and the carrier returns to spout-feeding station for another spout and another cycle of operation.

11. A machine for mounting on a container wall, a pouring spout including a body having side flanges to be pushed edgewise through a zone of said container wall during mounting of the spout, said machine comprising means for supporting and moving such a container continuously in one direction in a predetermined path and means including parts juxtaposed to and movable continuously in an endless path and momentarily synchronously with the container along a portion of said path that constitutes a spout-inserting station providing for the securing of a spout in the said portion of said wall during said momentary movement, spout-feeding means at a spout-feeding station, one of said parts being a spout carrier continuously movable in one direction in said endless path successively past said spout-feeding station and said spout-inserting station providing for the picking up of a spout by said carrier at said spout-feeding station and transferring the spout to said spout-inserting station.

12. A machine as defined in claim 11 for handling spouts whose flanges diverge from said body and are resilient, wherein said spout-forming means feeds a spout integrally connected to the end of a strip of spout blanks, said carrier has a slot to receive the spout while the spout is attached to said strip and while the carrier is moving past said spout-feeding station, and with the addition of means for severing the spout from said strip after the spout has entered said slot, and means for pressing said spout into said slot after such severance of the spout to cause yielding frictional engagement of said spout flanges with the walls of said slot whereby the spout is releasably held in and transferred by the carrier.

13. A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein the lastnamed means includes a resilient plate upwardly inclined in the direction of movement of the carrier over which said spout is slid by the carrier to cause upward movement of the spout in said slot.

14. A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein the lastnamed means includes a resilient plate upwardly inclined in the direction of movement of the carrier over which said spout is slid by the carrier to cause upward movement of the spout in said slot and a finger normally projecting into the path of movement of the spout to be abutted by the body of the spout as the spout is moved by the carrier, said finger being yieldably resisting movement by said spout but being retractable out of the path of the spout providing for pushing of the spout rearwardly into said slot.

15. A machine as defined in claim 14 wherein another of said parts is a ram reciprocable in said slot to push the spout therefrom, and with the addition of mechanism for actuating said ram at the spout-inserting station to push the spout from said carrier slot into said container wall.

16. For use with apparatus for supporting and moving a container in a predetermined path with one wall thereof disposed perpendicularly to said path, a machine for mounting in a zone of said container wall a pouring spout including a body having portions to be pushed edgewise through a zone of said container wall during mounting of the spout, said machine including at least one spout transfer and inserting unit movable in a predetermined path continuously in the same direction parallel to the path of the container and momentarily synchronously with the container along a portion of said path that constitutes a spout-inserting station, each of said units comprising a spout carrier, a ram for pushing the spout from the carrier through the wall of the container and an anvil to resist the thrust of the ram on said container wall, means for moving said carrier, said ram and said anvil simultaneously at said spout-inserting station laterally of said path of movement of the unit in one direction into the path of movement of the containers for positioning the carrier and ram at one side of said container wall, means for moving the anvil in a plane perpendicular to said path of movement for placing the anvil in and removing it from a position juxtaposed to the other side of said container wall, and means for actuating said ram toward and away from said anvil while the anvil is in said position to push a spout from the carrier through said container wall and to withdraw from the spout respectively, and means for simultaneously returning the carrier, ram and anvil in the other direction laterally of the path of the unit and out of the path of said containers for continued movement in the first-mentioned direction.

17. A machine for mounting in a zone of a container wall a pouring spout including a body having portions to be pushed edgewise through a zone of said container wall during mounting of the spout, said machine including a frame, at least one spout transfer and inserting unit including a support element movable on said frame continuously in a predetermined path to and from a predetermined portion of said path that constitutes a spout-inserting station, a mount slidable in said support element in directions transverse of said path of movement, a spout carrier on said mount, a ram on said mount and associated with said carrier for pushing the spout from the carrier through said zone of the container wall, and an anvil movable on said mount to resist the thrust of the ram on said container wall, means including parts on said frame for sliding said mount transversely of said path of movement at said spout-inserting station to provide for the positioning between said anvil and said carrier said zone of the wall of a container at said spout-inserting station, means including parts on said frame for actuating said anvil into opposed relation to said ram at said spout-inserting station, and means including parts on said frame for actuating said ram toward and away from said anvil while the anvil is in opposed relation to the carrier and ram to move a spout from the carrier and push said portions thereof through the container wall and to withdraw from the spout, respectively.

18. For use with apparatus for supporting and moving containers in spaced apart relation continuously in one direction in a predetermined path, a machine for mounting a pouring spout in a wall of each container, comprising a spout-feeding station having means for feeding spouts intermittently, at least one spout transfer and inserting unit movable continuously in one direction in a. predetermined endless path and momentarily synchronously with the container along and parallel to a portion of said path of the container that constitutes a spoutinserting station, each unit also being movable in said endless path adjacent and past said spout-feeding station and including a mount having thereon a spout carrier for picking up a spout at said spout-feeding station and carrying the spout to said spout-inserting station, and movable parts associated with said carrier for inserting the spout into one of said container walls during said synchronous movement of the carrier and the container through said unit-inserting station, providing for picking up of a spout by the carrier at the spout-feeding station, insertion of the spout into the container wall at the spout-inserting station, and the return of the spout to the spout-feeding station in said endless path for picking up another spout for a repetitive cycle of operation.

19. For use with apparatus for supporting and moving containers in spaced apart relation continuously in one direction in a predetermined path, each with an open end and one wall disposed perpendicularly to said path, a machine for mounting a pouring spout in said wall of each container, comprising a frame, a spout-feeding station having means for feeding spouts intermittently, at least one spout transfer and inserting unit movable continuouslyin one direction in a predetermined endless path and momentarily synchronously with a container along and parallel to a portion of said path of the containers that constitutes a spout-inserting station, each unit including a support element movable on said frame in an endless 13 path adjacent and past said spout-feeding station, a mount slidable in said support element in directions perpendicular to said path of movement and having thereon a spout carrier for picking up a spout at said spout-feeding station and carrying the spout to said spout-inserting station, a ram mounted on said carrier for pushing the spout from the carrier through said container wall and an anvil carried by said mount to resist the thrust of the ram on said container wall, said mount, carrier, ram and anvil being disposed normally at one side of said path of movement of the containers, means for moving said mount, said carrier, said ram and said anvil simultaneously from said normal position at one side of the path of movement of the containers at said spout-inserting station laterally of the path of the unit and the path of the container to position said carrier and ram at one side of said container wall and the anvil at the other side of said wall, means for actuating the anvil into and out of the container in juxtaposition to said wall, means for actuating said ram parallel to said path of movement of the unit toward and away from said anvil to push the spout into said container wall and to withdraw from the spout, respectively, the

anvil moving means being incorporated into the carrier and the ram moving means, and there being means for returning said mount, carrier, ram and anvil to the first mentioned normal position for continued movement to the spout-feeding station to pick up another spout.

20. A machine as defined in claim 19 wherein said means for actuating said mount includes coacting parts on the frame and parts on the mount, and means for actuating the ram and the anvil includes coacting parts connected to the ram and coacting parts on said frame, and the means for actuating said anvil includes coacting parts connected to the anvil and coacting parts mounted on said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,733 Brucker Oct. 8, 1940 2,589,769 Brucker Mar. 18, 1952 2,654,332 Klausmann Oct. 6, 1953 2,861,529 Klausmann Nov. 25, 1958 2,892,430 Klausmann June 30, 1959 

